The relevance of diet in the management of diabetes is indisputable. But sadly, no single food can deliver the full range of nutritional and health benefits needed for optimal health.
However, some scientific studies have linked specific foods to lower blood sugar levels. One spice, in particular, has risen to the task: reduce blood sugar levels by 30 percent in just 40 days.
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In a 2013 study published in Annals of Family Medicine and Diabetes Care, the researchers found that the Cinnamon is beneficial for people with type 2 diabetes.
The findings showed that people who ate one or more grams of cinnamon saw drop your sugar levels in the blood by 30 percent, compared to those who did not.
The results were seen in middle-aged diabetics who consumed just one, three, or six grams of cinnamon after just 40 days.
The study also noted a significant reduction in triglyceride, LDL cholesterol and total cholesterol levels of more than 25 percent.
The connection is thought to be due in part to cinnamon’s concentrations of chromium, a mineral that enhances the effects of insulin.
Its polyphenolic qualities may also provide benefits, acting as a buffer against free radicals in the blood.
This, in turn, helps reduce inflammation in the body, which may protect against diabetes and heart disease.
These findings were later confirmed in a study published in the July 2000 issue of the journal Agricultural Research, which confirmed that a daily intake of one gram may be enough to help increase insulin sensitivity.
The American Journal of Clinical Nutritional highlighted that a large six-gram dose of cinnamon could significantly reduce post-meal blood sugar spikes without affecting satiety.
However, the current evidence related to the benefits of cinnamon for diabetes is not substantial enough to make it medically relevant as a treatment.
What are the symptoms of diabetes?
The absence of clinical symptoms related to diabetes can make it difficult to detect in the early stages; however, if blood sugar levels are left untreated, complications can quickly set in.
These may include blurred vision, intense third, increased need to urinate, fatigue or numbness, and titration in the hands and feet.
There is a widespread belief that type 1 and type 2 diabetes, which take longer to develop, are irreversible conditions, but these views have been challenged in recent years.
Some researchers argue that significant weight loss might improve the chance of remission.
This is particularly true of prediabetes, a condition characterized by high blood sugar levels, but not yet high enough to qualify as type 2 diabetes.
In all cases, diet coupled with regular exercise offers the best chance of reversing the condition.